There's been a lot of talk here lately about "privilege", so it may be useful to define it ...
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However, you confuse privilege and gender inequality, then suggest I research an obviously one sided reading list as your proof of concept. Furthermore you now offer condescension in lieu of contradiction which doesn't inspire much interest in whatever critical thinking skills you possess.
how it plays out (for white folks that think they understand "privilege"
than what it is.
The problem I have with this is it takes it from being an unearned grant to a class and makes it an individual thing.
A white, straight, male retains his privilege in this society, even as he abhors, even works to end, racism, homophobia and genderism.
disagree with the OP's definition of privilege?
Anyway, I'm glad you and your son has such a good support system in your friends. 
I only know a little of NF, but it sounds like it can be difficult to deal with.
I agree with both. If one does not see the problem because they do not face it or have family/friends that deal with it then yes, it is a privilege. Being asked to leave public swimming pools or move to a different part of a restaurant because other patrons have told management we are causing them to lose their appetites is hurtful. Luckily there are those in my NF cyber family who have management stand up for us and tell those patrons that we will not be moved
The Oxford English Dictionary traces the world ableism back to 1981; likely the word was in use amongst activists before then.
[< ABLE adj. + -ISM suffix, after RACISM n., SEXISM n.2, etc. Compare ABLEIST adj., and also earlier ABLED adj. 2, ABLED n.]
orig. U.S.
Discrimination in favour of able-bodied people; prejudice against or disregard of the needs of disabled people.
In regards to this definition often employers believe that because we look different we can't do jobs. As referenced before there have been documented cases where the wait staff and some managers have been dismissed because patrons did not care for their looks and were also afraid of 'catching' the bumps/growths from the NF person.
In some cases modifications need to be made. An example would be a position that would require most of the time being on one's feet. A cashier could have a chair or others more frequent breaks to rest their back.
Cinnabonbon, thank you very much for your understanding. NF presents itself in so many ways that even the medical community is confused. Very often the patient has to teach the doctor about this genetic disorder.
Long story short, I agree with both views depending on how one wants to debate the state. Yes, I am being wish washy but thank you, again for your understanding. 
I agree with your first paragraph. One side of being privileged is having the luxury to be blissfully ignorant about how unfairly people are treated, because it doesn't happen to someone they know. I mean, why should it cross a person's mind to seek out knowledge about something they doesn't even know exist? It's when people tell them that it exists that it's important for them to listen.
I think you can argue that NF can fall under both, too! It simply depend on your point of view. But even so, ableism and the more specific definition you used earlier have the same goal in common. I think there might be a possibility to find very good allies on the ableism movement if you'd ever need it. There's more about ableism vs disablism vs lookism on wiki, if you're curious. (I personally have a hard time telling them apart sometimes.)
Anyhow, when it comes to talk about who is privileged in society and who isn't, what it boils down to is trying to put words to a certain oppression. People with NF and similar conditions have historically been treated like second class citizens, right? Hell, I think that the US had "ugly laws" for a long time that said that people with disfigurements weren't allowed in public. So no matter how you spin it, I think you can safely say that people who aren't conventionally attractive or suffer from something like this is definitely treated differently in society. Most of the reasons for that is because people are ignorant about the condition, I think. That's where some of the stereotypes come from too. Like the one that implies that people with certain issues can't do a job, which is clearly based on bullsh*t.
Thank you for the interesting discussion, Chaz. I am always interested in knowing more. It sucks that it's hard to find doctors who are up to date on the condition. I am sad to say that it's not uncommon to have ignorant doctors. My mother has a rather rare problem too, and whenever she needs to go to her doctor, she feels like she has to 'educate' him instead of him doing his research first. Very annoying!
a new term: lookism. That is one I have not heard of before. Thank you for this discussion and teaching me as well. 
to introduce me to more links about NF. Thank you. I'll make sure to read more about it, so I can be an ally if needed. 
I think the best way to battle society's harmful treatment is to be educate ourselves about what is happening.
Anyway, I enjoyed our discussion!
^I guess this means nothing, right?
I was just trying to add on to your point, since you mentioned Beyonce and Oprah. 
I also agree with the posters up-thread that point out that just because someone acknowledges your plight doesn't mean you are any less privileged.
So far people in the thread have mentioned race and gender as points of privilege and the lack there of depending on your status. I will add mine:
Being an adoptee. Most non-adoptees take for granted that they can fill out their family medical history when they visits the doctor. This information is important for a physician when giving medical care: when should a woman begin mammograms, when medications should be avoided because of kidney disease in the family, and the list goes on.
Adult adoptees in most states are legally kept from their own original birth certificates. For some adoptees (mostly older) this means that they can not get state identification, which also means that for some of those they cannot vote. Being kept from your own identification means that we are forever treated as a child. I cannot tell you how degrading this is.
Many, if not most adoptees long to research their genealogy, follow their family tree to explore the long ago history of their ancestors.
So yes, I am well versed in those with privilege believing that these are not important issues. And for those who have taken the time to understand these issues, I ask that you demand better for us.
this little old "white" fella ain't so "privileged", huh?
Does not all this come down rather to discrimination? Just thinking back in history. The Cars in Russia were the rulers- and coming with privileges- took their risks. Well, 1917 proved that they could not keep it going. Again, I believe that laws and education (and the passing the baton from one generation to another changes peoples minds. If, for instance, women in our country would vote to the greatest extent for a Congress friendly to their demands, a lot of different laws would be passed. Yes, I think that the media would not cooperate, and that is the most troubling part of the equation. Still, to me, discrimination only last as long as the public will allow them to exist, and in spite of all at my old age I keep hoping. Thank you for responding in such a nice way.
and not just good laws- but better ones, that are actually enforced. right now we let everything private regulate itself, god knows what these corporations are doing. more watch dog media- I wish that would be our new version of reality TV!
that's my christmas wish list!
